Emma: Hmm, I think Haurchefant's death is pretty much the low point of most WoLs, but personally I think for S'eni Papalymo's death also ranks pretty high up there. As for the thing she's most proud of...I think getting everyone, including G'raha, back home safely. Though managing to snag a house sure felt great too...
Welcome to Garlemald
Garlemald, home of the Garlean people not out of desire, but out of necessity. Driven here eight hundred years ago by century-long wars against the Covorsi, they had lost everything but each other. As if the entire world had conspired against them.
Forsaken, and easily manipulated.
It was the year 1513 of the Sixth Astral era that marked the rise of Legatus Solus and the Magitek-Revolution. How did the first Ceruleum engine come to be? And how did a shy and humble soldier like Solus rise through the ranks so quickly?
I still remember my thoughts when I first looked through his eyes at these frozen wastes...
Blasted cold! Was all S'eni thought, pulling her coat tighter around her as another gust of wind passed by the settlement they had chosen as their base of operations. According to Maxima and Lucia, it used to be quite busy around here, but now all that remained were empty homes through which the winds whispered stories of those that once lived there. As somber of a sight it was, though, they couldn't afford to be picky right now, and after their long march through the Magna Glacies, as well as an intense battle with tempered imperials of the Ist and IIIrd Legions, they were in dire need of shelter.
But what good was that shelter when the heating wasn't working!? Gods, and she thought Coerthas was cold!
"You know, staring holes into the back of my head won't make us work any faster," Stephanivien suddenly said and turned around, raising his goggles above his smudged face to better look at her. "I assure you we shall have a workable Ceruleum heater up and running in no time."
"I hope so. Or this will be an awfully short expedition."
"Truth be told, we would have a much easier time of it if we would make use of the interior heating of the buildings. But from the look of things they have been left running until all Ceruleum was used up..."
"...As if they just up and left in the middle of whatever they were doing." Both of them frowned and turned their attention to the spire looming in the distance. Far larger and even more twisted than its brethren scattered across the world, it looked like a hulking monstrosity that radiated pure, unadulterated malice. Yes, there was no doubt that this was their enemy's headquarters.
"If you or any of the other machinists need any help, don't hesitate to ask," she said.
"I will," he assured her and went back to work.
Walking away from him, she looked about the vicinity. Her eyes landed on the Aetheryte in the center of this settlement and she stopped not far from it to take a closer look. She frankly hadn't expected to find one here, but she supposed even the Garleans couldn't deny the convenience of teleporting their non-pureblooded people from one area to the other. If nothing else, it made things a little bit easier for them.
S'eni turned to see if anyone else might be in need of assistance but stopped when she saw Alphinaud waving his hand as he came walking towards her. "Alphinaud," she said once he was within earshot. "Need me for something?"
"In a manner of speaking. Lucia is asking for us to join her to discuss our next course of action," he replied. "We are to meet at the building to the northeast of camp."
"Of course, I'll be there soon."
"Good. Would you mind telling Y'shtola as well? I've been looking for her and Raha and it might go faster if you help me."
"Sure. I saw her standing by some trees earlier."
And that was also exactly where she found her now as well, staring up at the tower. But as she approached her, she could immediately tell that something wasn't right with the other Miqo'te. "Shtola...is everything alright?" she asked as she stopped in front of her, eyebrows drawn in concern.
"If I'm being honest, no," Y'shtola replied and tore her gaze away from the spire. "I've been feeling rather unwell since we arrived."
"Because of the tower?"
"Yes. The air is thick with a palpable aura of malevolence...even at this distance, its presence is overwhelming. Aether flows unceasingly towards it, converging into a swirling mass of unfathomable power." Her lover released a sigh. "...For a blessing, the constant chill keeps my senses anchored in the here and now. Tell the other I shall be with you in a moment."
"Oh no, you can't expect me to hear you talking about feeling unwell and then leave you alone. It's my job to keep an eye on you."
"Is that so? I seem to recall your job is to always save the day when things turn sour."
"Maybe," S'eni said, brushing a few stray white locks out of Y'shtola's face before cupping her cheek. "Doesn't mean I can't also keep a watchful eye on what's important to me."
"Honestly..." Y'shtola huffed out with a smile. "Fine, you win. Just...give me a little bit to try and ignore this jagged, unholy monstrosity here."
Once they were both sure that Y'shtola's head was sufficiently cleared, they made their way to the meeting place. As they entered the building, S'eni spotted a few crates and barrels standing in the corners of the hall, serving as just another reminder that this place used to be busy once. Frowning, she instead turned her gaze towards Lucia, who was leaning over the map spread out on the large table in the center, exchanging a few words with Maxima before noticing their entrance.
"S'eni, Y'shtola. Thank you for coming so swiftly," she greeted them. "Once the others have arrived, we will begin."
A short while later, the others trickled into the building and formed a group around the table. After taking a look around, Lucia nodded and said, "Let us go over our objectives one more time. First, we are to search and protect as many surviving Garleans as possible, and second, find a way to enter the Imperial Palace."
"We should also try to find out what exactly happened in Garlemald. It could offer us valuable insight into the Telophoroi's goals," Y'shtola suggested.
"In that regard, I might already have an idea," Maxima said. "Some of the soldiers we took into custody at Magna Glacies are members of the Populares. If we were to cure them, they could offer us some insights into the events that transpired."
"A fine idea. I shall see to personally that they are cured." Placing a hand on her hip, Y'shtola looked towards A-Ruhn-Senna. "But for that, I will have to borrow a Porxie. If the healers are alright with that?"
"Certainly," the Padjal replied with a nod.
"Should I help you?" Alisaie asked.
"No, that won't be necessary. Your assistance is best used elsewhere," Y'shtola replied. "Until I have managed to get used to the Aether around here, I won't be leaving camp anyway."
"That's all well and good," Sicard, from the Limsan volunteers then said. "But what good'll do healing 'em if they'll freeze to death soon after? We need to get the heating system fixed."
"Stephanivien said he is already working on a Ceruleum heater," S'eni told him in return. "It would probably go faster if the machinists were working together with the Limsan armourers and blacksmith."
Lucia nodded. "I will see to it."
"Then the rest of us should scout out the area or guard the camp," Thancred said.
"Yes, the Telephoroi must have noticed our battle against their tempered troops. They will surely know by now we have arrived. Maybe even know our exact location." The Garlean frowned. "Looking at it from this way, it is almost frighteningly quiet. Either they wish to lure us into a false sense of security and strike when we least await it..."
"Or their priorities lie elsewhere," Estinien threw in from his position at the wall.
"That we will find out soon enough. Right now we should learn what we can of the area. Urianger, Estinien, and I know our way around the capital, but we could use some assistance from our Bozjan and Dalmascan allies," Thancred said, sharing a nod with the aforementioned two.
"Take some of our scouts as well," Lyse offered.
"Thanks. That should more than suffice to cover the city and its vicinities. Perhaps even to get a glimpse at the Imperial Palace. Ah—" he turned his attention to G'raha. "I'd like your assistance as well. In case we need to vanish into thin air."
"Like you have any need for that," G'raha chuckled. "But that does not mean I wish to stay behind."
Alisaie looked at S'eni, raising her shoulders in a light shrug. "I guess that means we're on guard duty," she said.
"No. I have another task in mind for you two, as well as Alphinaud," Lucia said. "Between this camp and the city lies the Eblan Rime. I would like for you to search the area for survivors. You have followed many a track on your journeys, so I have no doubt that you will have the best chance of finding anyone out there."
"Walking across frosty planes for hours on end? I can't think of anything I would love to do more," S'eni replied, not even bothering with hiding the sarcasm from her voice, causing the commander's lips to rise into a little grin.
"Almost makes Coerthas seem like a beach paradise, hm? I will try to have the camp up and running enough so that we might offer you a hot soup upon your return." Face growing serious again, Lucia looked over the group once more. "Very well, let us get to work. Be careful and do not overdo it, lest the terrain will claim you before the enemy does."
Thus dismissed, they all left the building to work on the tasks given to them.
"Well then," Y'shtola began and turned towards S'eni with that infuriating teasing smile of hers. "Good luck out there in the cold."
"And good luck to you not getting too cozy here."
They shared a laugh.
"But really, do take care." Pale eyes shifted over to the twins. "Of them too."
"Don't worry. I will," she promised and watched as Y'shtola's teasing smile turned genuine. With a silent wave, she turned away from her lover and walked over to Alphinaud and Alisaie.
"—I have to remember to thank her when we meet next time," she heard the latter say.
"Ready to head out?" she asked.
They nodded.
As the three of them headed out towards the edge of camp, they stumbled across none other than Emmanellain, who looked quite busy...doing squats. Noticing them, he raised his hand and grinned. "What ho, chums! Been given something to do?" he asked them. "As it happens, I too have been ordered to make myself useful!"
"Sounds like a rather tall order..." Alisaie muttered under her breath, before clearing her throat at the look S'eni shot her. "Since you ask, we're to search the Eblan Rime for survivors."
"What!? Wander around the ice fields on the off chance you'll find someone?" he stopped mid-squat, then straightened himself to full height. "You'd take forever to finish the job without the benefit of my expertise, or specifically—"
He pulled something from his belt.
"—my telescope! Come, I know just the spot to begin our search!" Not even giving them a chance to reply, he walked away.
"...I'll probably regret this, but we may as well humor him."
"Now, now Alisaie. Be nice," S'eni said with another look towards her friend. "He has changed quite a deal from the fop he used to be. Don't let his demeanour fool you. He knows what's at stake here."
"From your mouth to the gods' ears."
They caught up to Emmanellain on a hill a short distance outside of camp, already putting his telescope to good use.
"I spy with my little telescope...a massive...sheep-thing? Or maybe a cow?" he shook his head and turned to look in another direction. "Not what we're after, either way...Is that an aether current? Ah, no, just a wind sprite. Other than that, it's all snow, snow, snow."
The young woman just crossed her arms and sent S'eni an I-told-you-so-look. But it lasted only a couple of seconds when Emmanellain found something, or rather, someone.
"Yes, no mistaking it. That's a girl," he said.
"A survivor!?" Alphinaud stepped up next to him. "Show me!"
"Over there, by that tree. She's wearing a rather fetching pale green dress." He handed his telescope to the younger Elezen and pointed ahead. "It looks like she's running away from something. But surely not us? She wouldn't even know we're here unless she had a telescope of her own."
"She'll be long gone by the time we're anywhere near," Alphinaud said and gave Emmanellain his telescope back. "But we should be able to follow her footprints."
At least until it starts snowing again, S'eni thought with a look towards the sky. While the blizzard that had greeted them at Magna Glacies had subsided during their march, the clouds were still a foreboding gray. They needed to be quick.
"I'll let Lucia know where you're headed," Emmanellain said while placing the telescope back on his belt. "Oh, and take these warming tinctures with you. The poor girl must be chilled to the bone, if not on the verge of freezing to death."
"That's...actually very thoughtful. Thank you," Alisaie said and took one of the offered bottles. "But won't you need some for yourself?"
"No, no! I'll be fine!" He assured her and tapped his chest with a grin. "As a man of chivalry, my honor demands I do no less. And lest we forget, the very reason we are here is to protect those in need. Now go, and godsspeed!"
Making their way down the hill as fast as they could, the three of them headed towards the tree that Emmanellain had pointed out to them and from there, followed a trail of footprints to a nearby building. But no sight of the girl.
"Looks like the door hasn't been touched in a while," Alisaie pointed out and looked around for any other signs of the entrance. "Wonder what this could be...?"
"According to the label on this crate, it was used by those involved in extracting Ceruleum," Alphinaud said.
"Could she be looking for some then?" S'eni wondered.
"Perhaps. She might still be nearby, so we'll keep looking around here." The young woman turned to face her. "Then again, she might have also run right past here. Would you mind checking up ahead?"
"Sure, I can do that." Leaving the two, S'eni walked away from the building and climbed on a nearby rock to look into the distance. Nothing but wide, frozen planes—There!
Stepping out from behind another rock not far from her position was the girl dressed in green that Emmanellain had spotted. She watched her look around carefully, before heading eastward. S'eni's first instinct was to call out to her, but that might only draw the attention of any nearby beast. So there was little else she could do but follow her to wherever she was heading.
After jumping off the rock, she began to trail after the girl, always keeping at a safe distance and staying out of sight. For a brief moment, it had looked like she had been discovered and that the girl was purposefully leading her on a wild goose chase. But eventually, she came to a stop past the giant Ceruleum pipes and, after looking around carefully one last time, headed up a pathway leading to what looked like a mansion. Stepping out of hiding, S'eni reached towards her ear and pressed a finger against the linkpearl inside it.
A few seconds passed and Alisaie picked up. "S'eni! Did you find her?"
"I did, and followed her to what I assume is her hiding place."
"Where are you?"
"If you travel eastward you will come across a set of pipes. Follow them north and from there head further east. You can't really miss it," she explained. "I'm going to approach her."
"Alright, we'll be there as soon as possible."
Closing the call, she lowered her hands once more and looked up to where the girl was still walking.
"Well, here goes..." she said and began to head up.